Algae Manhattan Project for Fuels – A firm step towards a profitable algal biofuels industry

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Algae biomass is considered a potential renewable resource for biofuels and biobased chemicals. In fact, algae can be the basis of a highly efficient and totally integrated biorefinery. There are a number of pilot and demonstration facilities running worldwide (learn more here) and several companies and research institutions are still trying to develop technologies that speed up the deployment of the integrated algal biorefineries. However, algae transportation fuels remain a distant dream for industry and consumers. In the last few years, some important processes of algae fuel research have been validated (the aforementioned facilities are an example) but the leap towards commercial scale has not been occurred.

Taking this situation into account, the National Algae Association (NAA) has been calling during the last two years for a project bringing algae fuel research experts and private industry in collaboration to build the first commercial algae fuel farm in the world to be located in Texas. This initiative is called the “Algae Manhattan Project for Fuels” and it is characterized for being open (any algae fuel expert is welcome to join) and cooperative. The NAA believes that bringing together the best and brightest in collaboration to build one commercial facility, conversion technologies will be finally proven in a real production environment. This would a definitive and necessary step towards a profitable algal biofuels industry. I expect the initiative will be successful sooner rather than later because the time has come for us to see integrated algal biorefineries flourishing all around the world.

The NAA is a non-profit algae production trade association established more than 10 years ago. Its members are commercially-minded algae researchers, algae producers and equipment companies. The NAA has established the first Algae Production Incubator Program in the world for “algaepreneurs” interested in the emerging commercial algae production industry. If your organization has interest in being involved in the “Algae Manhattan Project for Fuels” or knowing more about the activities of the NAA, you can contact to barry@nationalalgaeassociation.com.

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